Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal have made a significant acquisition by signing Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Serie A side Lazio. The announcement was made on Wednesday confirming the completion of the deal. In a tweet, Al-Hilal described Milinkovic-Savic as “coming from the Eagles of Italy” and that he represented “the leader of Asia”.

According to Italian media reports, Al-Hilal have agreed to pay around 40 million euros ($44.51 million) for the 28-year-old. Milinkovic-Savic has committed to a three-year contract with an additional option for a fourth year. He will be joined by Senegal defender Kalidou Coulibaly and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, both of whom recently joined the club in June.

To mark the occasion, Al-Hilal shared a video on social media, which captured the emotional reaction of Milinkovic-Savic’s father when looking at pictures of his son. The footage then shows the Serbian player proudly wearing his new team’s jersey and saying, “I am Hilal.”

Milinkovic-Savic began his career with Lazio in 2015 and was instrumental in their triumph in the 2018–19 Italian Cup as well as their two Italian Super Cup victories. Al-Hilal, based in Riyadh, boasts an illustrious history as the most decorated club in Saudi Arabia and Asia. They have an impressive record of 18 Saudi league titles and four Asian Champions titles.

Despite missing out on the league and Champions League titles last season, Al-Hilal remains a formidable force in Saudi Arabian football. The addition of Milinkovic-Savic, along with the recent re-appointment of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus on a one-year deal, signals their determination to reclaim their past successes and dominate the upcoming season.